MANGALURU: Two buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) were damaged by the stone-pelters on Tuesday morning during the Congress' 'Samarasya Nadige, Souhardathedege' padayatra that commenced from Farangipet.
No casualties have been reported. Over 500 police personnel including the state reserve police were deployed at key points of the yatra from Farangipet to Mani. Sources said that security measures at Kalladka were increased as it was a more sensitive area.
Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister B Ramanatha Rai before the rally had asked the participants to maintain peace throughout the rally. “Though there were some negative comments on our padayatra, one should not provoke and pay heed to these rumours. Our intention is to create communal harmony among the people and there is no hidden agenda of politics,” he had said.
The padayatra eventually started from Farangipet at around 10 am. Film actor Prakash Rai was the centre of attraction while MLAs Shakunthala Shetty, JR Lobo, Vasanth Bangera, Abhayachandra Jain, chief whip of legislative council Ivan D'Souza, CPI(M) leaders Siddana Gowda Patil, G V Sriram Reddy, were among those who participated.
The activists of Congress and others who supported the padayatra were seen wearing a white cap with the title ' Samarasya Nadige Souhardatheyedege'.